I'm back, now with a true ending. I hope that this ending is not bad for the readers. One of my problem is easily starting a story, but don't know how to end it, haha. With this chapter uploaded, it means that 'Inseparable' is done, but I still appreciate all coming reviews to improve this story. And one more info: Tai's here, despite his family name is not Kamiya (sorry for changing your family name, Tai :3)
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Chapter 7: Change
4 years later...
This was TK's first day in junior military academy. He looked around and saw many older angels, who were also new students of the academy. Yes, although the other new students were around 15, but TK was just 12 at that time. He showed potential in fencing and was also able to open some powerful magic seal, so he was undoubtfully accepted by the school despite his age. Unfortunately, because of this, some new students felt that he was still unfit to be accepted.
"Is he accepted just because there's an Octangel in his body?"
"In the test day, he used his Octangel to maximize his magic seal."
"He doesn't have any potential, actually."
All they said were not true, at all. Octangel was Octangel, and TK was TK. If TK used Octangel to help him, the whole field where the selection test was held would sure be destroyed. TK remembered what his mom said before he moved to the dormitory, "The first day always be the hardest day. Whatever they say about you, remember: they don't know a thing."
They don't know a thing, TK ensured himself while some new students looked at him from the corner of their eyes. The tall blond angel kept walking confidently through the corridor. He must be in the auditorium before 8 am for the academic year opening ceremony. He didn't want to be late.
"You know what? There was once a rumor about him."
"What rumor?"
"About a betrayal he arranged. He was still 8 when he befriended a werewolf. He used that werewolf to spark up a big war 4 years ago."
"Huh, he's not more than a disguising traitor, is he? With his innocent face and youth, he can trick everyone."
TK balled his fist. No, I'm OK, TK resounded it through his heart, They don't know a thing, especially about Matt. TK took a deep breath. The memory of Matt still left him a pain, as excruciating as when he hugged Matt for the last time.
"Hey, kid!"
Someone suddenly placed his palm on TK's shoulder. Surprised a lot, TK stopped walking and turned his head. An older boy, maybe around 15, with spiky brown hair and a look-at-my-white-shiny-teeth smile, walked behind TK, still placing his hand on TK's shoulder. He then walked beside TK and said, "Morning, are you Takeru Takaishi?"
TK simply nodded. "Nah, then nice to meet you," he shook TK's hand, "I'm Taichi Ishida, call me Tai. I'm your roommate."
"Nice to meet you, too." TK smiled nervously. He didn't get used to befriend older angel. Some teen angels older than him were not so friendly and respectful to the younger ones. But that spiky boy there...
Smack! "Ouch!" TK nearly fell because of a powerful smack on the back Tai gave him. Tai quickly helped him to stand up. "Oops, sorry!" he laughed, "Too much power. I just want to cure your 'first-day anxiety'."
TK blinked several times. "How do you know?"
"Well, I was once having that kind of anxiety too, but when my close friend smacked me on the back like that, my anxiety was gone."
'Once'? "Ah, are you a second-grader?" TK asked, slightly ashamed with his earlier thought that Tai was also a new student.
Tai nodded. "The academy assigned me to watch you. I know why: as the youngest but most talented student, there will be much difficulties you will face."
TK smiled, now a little bit relaxed. "Thank you. I don't even think about getting someone watching me like this. You must be one of the talented too; the others who are the same age with you are still first-graders, while you have stepped forward."
Tai smiled that shiny smile again, slightly blushed. "I entered this academy at 14, not so young if compared to you," he said, "You are the one with talent, so show it to the older ones and they won't underestimate you again."
TK's face lit up. "OK."
One simple meeting with Tai lessened the uneasy feeling TK had. Maybe the academy wouldn't be that hard.
After the opening ceremony, the students went to their classes, so TK was parted from Tai. TK sat alone at his desk, reading a book of fencing Kari gave him. There was a small bookmark Kari made on the page. Everytime his eyes fell on the dried jasmine Kari used as decoration for the bookmark, TK smiled slightly. He remembered a few minutes before he went to the academy.
"TK!"
"Kari!"
The teen-aged angel girl panted in front of TK. "You don't say that you leave today!" She said, her face got damp with tears, "You said that you'll leave two days after this!"
TK smiled sadly. "Sora sent me a letter from the academy, saying that school will start sooner."
Kari looked at his eyes for a few seconds. TK gulped. He would not cry in front of his friend, but it was too sad to leave Kari when she knew he would leave earlier. Kari was too close to him, too kind, and too...beautiful. A memory of her would never faded, and it was painful.
Suddenly, Kari's face lit up with a smile. " I knew sooner or later you'll leave..." she handed a book to TK, "...Please take it. A gift for you."
TK blushed slightly and took the book. "Ah, thank you..." he said in low voice, "'Fencing: Brief History and Techniques Mastery', 10th edition."
Kari wiped her tears. "Maybe, it will help you in the academy. Most new students trust it for guide."
"Thank you so much, Kari," he said, surprised and touched, "I don't even know about that. And I...don't give you anything for your medical study..."
"Who says you don't give me anything?" Kari said, confused TK, "Just to see you smile is a gift for me, because from that smile, I know you'll be OK in the academy."
The two froze for a while, staring at each other, then averted their eyes in the same time, blushing. TK opened the book and saw a bookmark there. "Is this a bonus, Kari?" he lifted the bookmark.
"I made it myself. Don't you like it?"
TK giggled. "Well, a bookmark with a dried flower decoration in a fencing book is pretty unique, you know." He said and Kari widened her eyes. "Oh God! I forgot that it's a boy book..."
"It's OK, Kari," TK closed the book, placing the bookmark between the middle pages, "as long as it can bring our memory together."
Kari smiled, then nodded. "Take care, TK."
"Hey, junior." Someone called. TK lifted his sight from his book. Some new students called him by 'junior' several times that morning to tease him. "Oh, look at this: how diligent!" One of the big boys took TK's book and read it (actually, only turned the pages) randomly, and saw Kari's bookmark. "Guys, look! I found something interesting!" The boy said while showing the bookmark to others. TK wanted to punch the boy's nose so much, but the memory of Kari's gentleness calmed him. "Please place it between the middle pages and give me the book."
The other boys laughed. "Hey, is it yours? So pretty. Fit a girl like you!"
"Please give it back to me." TK hid his anger.
"Nope. You'll need to fight us first!"
TK stood up and, with a quick move, took back his book. He sat and read the book again. "How...how can he..." The boys behind amazed by how TK took back his book from the strong boy. Unfortunately, the strong boy got angry. "Go to hell, kid!"
With another fast move, TK avoided the attack and stood beside his desk. The strong boy fell to TK's desk. Some boys laughed at the strong boy, who now stared at TK angrily. TK still read his book and said calmly, "Don't break the table. It's the property of the academy."
"Shut up!"
Suddenly, a magic seal opened under TK's leg, and TK was unaware of that until he got binded by the seal. TK widened his eyes and looked at his binded legs, and then turned his sight behind. Someone laughed; he must be the strong boy's friend, and he was the one who binded TK.
"How can a weakling like you is accepted here?!" The strong boy punched TK, now succeeded. TK fell, his book slipped from his hands. His right face was bruised and rather painful, but it didn't make TK retreat. TK guarded himself from the boy with his palms, caught his opponent's heavy fists and hardly pushed them away.
TK has grown up. He has grown stronger.
"Stop if you don't want to run 17 laps circling the practice field."
The deep young voice stopped the strong boy. Everyone sat back to their own desk, including TK. The teacher had arrived.
Wait. TK widened his eyes. Was the young boy standing in front of the blackboard really his teacher? Teacher was used to be a grey-haired old man, or at least, someone aged the same as TK's father if he was still alive, not a 15-years-old boy.
Besides, this guy resembled Matt, so much, only his hair was longer and his face looked more mature. That was why TK nearly choked when he saw his teacher.
"Is there something wrong?"
TK got his focus back to the class, seemed confused.
"Yes, you," the young teacher pointed at TK, "Is there something wrong with me?"
"N-nothing. Just..surprised. I am very sorry for disturbing, Sir." TK stooped. He mustn't stared at the surprisingly young teacher too long; it wouldn't be polite, although the appearance of the teacher was much too attractive to everyone.
"It's alright. Now, let me introduce myself. I am Yamato Ishida, lecturer and coach for the first semester."
TK let out a sigh of relief. The teacher was Yamato, not Matt.
A month passed. That morning...
"Man, something's wrong with you," Tai touched TK's forehead, "Your fever gets worse."
"I'm OK, Tai. Don't worry." TK pushed Tai's hand away.
"Don't tell me you're OK! Yesterday, you said 'I'll be OK', but now, you're getting worse. Don't take any class today. I'll tell your teacher."
"But I can take care of myself. I know my limit. This class's important, please let me..."
"No, you don't. Stay on bed. I'll go get your medicine and breakfast."
So, half-hearted, TK stayed on bed while waiting for Tai. He covered his eyes with his right arm, shielding himself from intense morning ray. "Well, although I have a fever, I'm OK." he said to himself as his arm touched his warm forehead. His face reddened from the fever and he got an annoying headache since last night.
TK took too many classes this month. He pushed himself hard to get good marks at every classes, and he did it, but he didn't realize that he needed rest. The teasers kept going, made things worse to TK as he used to keep his anger for himself, building a stress tower. A homesick was on top of all; he missed his mom and Kari, although he didn't confess it to anyone, even Tai.
And Yamato Ishida reminded him of Matt.
Tai had gone to his class. TK was still lying weakly on his bed while he heard a knock on the window glass. TK slowly stood up, feeling rather annoyed, but his mood was drastically changed when he saw Sora outside, carrying letters. TK smiled while opening the window. "It's unusual to see you here, not in the post room."
"Yes, I see you lying here so I better take a shortcut...wait. What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"It's not nothing," Sora touched TK's cheek, "You got a high fever!"
"Sora..."
"Don't push yourself too hard, TK. Matt will get angry with me..."
"Don't mention him again, Sora!"
Sora lost her balance and fell backward, but she managed herself to fly again and held the edge of the window to help her stay flying. "TK... I'm sorry, I don't mean to..."
TK froze for a while,then smiled tiredly. "I'm sorry, too. Just being a little moody lately," he rubbed his wet forehead, "So, is there any from Mom or Kari?"
"Ah, yes. One from Kari, one from your Mom...uh, two actually: a letter and a bottle of medicine. And the last one...do you still want to accept it?"
TK seemed confused. "What's the last one?"
"Matt's letter."
Wind blew gently as TK held the glass window shakily. He left Matt's one and only letter at home because if he brought it to the academy, he thought that it would distract his study. But his mom delivered it back, thinking that TK left it by accident and delivering it made TK better. Actually, what TK did was leaving the memories of Matt away, but he couldn't because remembering Matt helped him to survive through the tough academy. Remembering how strong Matt was, how he protected others (especially TK), made TK believe that the world wasn't as tough as we thought if we have at least something-someone to love and protect.
TK opened his palms while smiling purely. "Give me all the letters."
Hi, TK. I don't think I'm good at writing letter. A phoenix who sent you this taught me to write. And through this letter, I want to apologize.
Werewolves and angels, as you know, are two different worlds. At first, I thought that light in angels and darkness in werewolves used to confront each other, but after meeting you, and after what happened near Purgare Lake, I know that even the angels have darkness inside them. I want to apologize because I can't always protect you from the darkness near you.
Hope that we're just in the same world. World of light and pure angels, because it's rather annoying to find that although we're 'separated' by the powers inside us, we're inseparable.
Take care, TK.
Thank you for everything.
Matt's messy writing told TK everything Matt felt, although it wasn't long. With the rolled letter in his hand, TK fell asleep. A slight smile lit up his reddish face.
Yamato and Tai entered TK's room. Hearing the door opened, TK stirred. A blurry image of Tai and Yamato appeared.
"Sorry for waking you up, TK. I bring Yamato here to cure you." Tai said.
TK nodded weakly.
Yamato sat beside TK, holding TK's hand to check his pulse. Not good; too fast. TK also breathed more frequently. While checking TK's temperature... "39,50 C." He mumbled.
"How is he, Yamato?" Tai asked his adoptive brother worriedly.
"I must get another medicine for him from The Center Clinic," Yamato said in low voice, "The medicine in dorm's clinic won't work against this."
"Is he that bad?"
Yamato smiled. "Don't worry too much. Just take care of him and I'll be back from The Center Clinic with his medicine."
Yamato was about to leave, but Tai stopped him. "Wait, Yamato. Take a look at this."
Yamato turned back. Tai held a bottle of medicine he wanted to get from The Center Clinic. "Seems like his mom sent him this." Tai said.
After examining the label and the liquid medicine inside the small bottle, Yamato nodded in certainty. "This is the right medicine."
Yamato helped TK drink his medicine. TK coughed a little after drinking the liquid, then lay his head back on the pillow. "Thank you..." He forced himself to thank his teacher. Yamato nodded.
Hold on, TK. Please hold on...
"I'll go get some water. Yamato, please take care of him." Tai said.
"Yes, be back soon. He needs it."
Tai left.
TK's eyes slowly shut. Yamato was relieved to see TK sleep, but a minute later, TK moaned.
"Uuuhhh... Matt..." TK trembled, he held the letter more tightly.
Yamato sighed. Delirium.
"Hey, kid. Wake up." Yamato shook TK's body a little, but no result. TK saw a blurry image of bloody Matt in his dream. "Nggh..." He became more uneasy. Couldn't see TK tortured in nightmare, Yamato whispered to TK.
"Hey. Thank you for keeping my letter."
TK was aware of this voice, despite his drowsiness. Although it was a little heavier, but TK remembered clearly this calming tone. This wasn't his lecturer Yamato Ishida. "You...?" TK asked confusedly. Yamato smiled and held TK's hand who clutched the letter.
"It's me. Matt."
The door was opened. Tai brought a tray with two oranges, jug and three cups on it. "I get some refreshments for us, Yama... Hey, what are you doing, silly? He can't breath!" He shouted in panic when Yamato covered TK's face immediately after Tai came in. "He got a flu and before you came in, he sneezed. Something came out from his nose...yeah, you know what, and he don't want you to see it. Get a tissue or something for him, and also...some pills for flu from the dorm's clinic."
Tai widened his eyes, then laughed. "For a second, I thought you'll kill him!" The brunette searched the drawer, took a pack of tissue and threw it to Yamato, "I'll go to the clinic. Clean your nose, TK!"
Tai came out again and Yamato uncovered TK's face, only to see TK's ashamed and damp face. "I'm not...sneezing..." He said. Yamato laughed. "I know, but it's the only way to hide your crying face from Tai."
TK was surprised to hear that. Yamato, no, Matt knew TK didn't want anyone to see him cry.
Matt. He had a pair of pristine white wings on his back, white angel robe covering his shirt, and...light. Light of a pure angel. "How can...you...be an... angel...?" asked TK weakly against the wave of unconsciousness. Matt shrugged. "Don't know. One day, I woke up in Tai's house. The family said they found me in front of their house, wounded and covered in black soot, so they helped me. I didn't know who I was, where I came from, or another personal identity, so they decided to adopt me after giving me a new name, Yamato. I knew something was lost from me, but I didn't know what until I met you, TK. That day, when I first saw you again, I remembered everything."
Warm liquid uncontrollably dripped one by one from the sick angel's eyes, although TK had struggled to stop crying. Matt couldn't see the 'little' angel suffer more from fever and hidden feelings, so he smiled and said, "Just cry. I know you have grown, but it's OK. For me, you're still little TK." Matt ruffled TK's hair slowly. There were so much thoughts and feelings inside that hot head. TK had really grown up and faced many problems, and now it was time to release everything.
TK held Matt's hand. "Don't...leave... again..." asked the younger blond angel hopefully. Matt nodded and TK smiled. TK's eyes slowly shut and a moment later, he fell asleep in peace. Thinking that Matt was still there even after he was asleep relieved his sickness a bit.
Matt wiped the sleeping angel's tears with his palm. He felt TK's grip tightened a little, didn't want him to go.
"I won't leave you again, because now, we're inseparable, little brother."
THE END
Thank you for everything, as Matt said in the story :). Yes, I thank everyone who had read, reviewed, followed, or added my story to favorites (especially LILFOC, Zen, Digidestined Ninja of Sunshine, blitzer99). I'm a beginner and you boost my spirit to improve ^^ I'm sorry I didn't send any PM or something...I hope my story will be enough. Thank you again, and as I said, you can still review this, so please read n review everyone :3
